The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has announced that electricity consumers who bypass their prepaid meters or engage in illegal connections will face a minimum fine of N100,000.
This directive was outlined in an amended order on unauthorized access, meter tampering, and bypassing, released on Tuesday.
The penalties vary based on customer category, ranging from N100,000 to N300,000. Additionally, maximum demand customers caught engaging in energy theft will be required to pay between 450% and 600% of their last recorded energy consumption.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has announced that the Amended Order on Unauthorized Access, Meter Tampering, and Bypass has replaced Order No: NERC/REG/41/2017 and took effect on January 22, 2025.
According to the regulator, the amendment aligns with the Electricity Act 2023 and the Customer Protection Regulations 2023, granting distribution companies the authority to disconnect unauthorized connections without prior notice and setting conditions for reconnection.
The order is designed to curb unauthorized access to electricity, meter tampering, and bypassing. The order also aims to establish clear reconnection guidelines to ensure compliance.
“Customers who bypass meters or gain unauthorized access must pay administrative charges, including the cost of meter replacement and reconnection,” the order states. It emphasizes that any customer caught tampering with a meter or bypassing it will only be reconnected after paying the required administrative charges, including the cost of replacing the meter.
For non-maximum demand single-phase residential customers, the penalty for a first offense is N100,000, while a subsequent offense attracts a fine of N150,000. For non-maximum demand three-phase customers, the fine for a first offense is N200,000, while a subsequent offense attracts N300,000.
Similarly, maximum demand customers will be required to pay 450% of their last recorded energy consumption for a first offense and 600% for subsequent offenses.
Recently, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (Ikeja Electric) raised concerns over the rising cases of energy theft.
The DisCo warned that offenders caught in the act would be immediately prosecuted, stressing that the days of merely imposing revenue loss penalties were over.
Ikeja Electric’s Head of Corporate Communication, Kingsley Okotie, expressed frustration over the growing trend, particularly after the implementation of the reviewed tariff on Band A feeders.
“The theft is massive, and if this trend continues, the company will struggle to meet customer expectations. Ironically, some perpetrators believe that as long as they haven’t been caught, there are no consequences. This is false, and we must change the narrative,” he stated.
Okotie emphasized that for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry to remain sustainable, all stakeholders must work together to combat electricity theft, as such illegal activities threaten the sector’s stability.
Similarly, Babatunde Lasaki, spokesperson for Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), identified energy theft—including meter bypassing, tampering, illegal connections, and interference with electrical infrastructure—as a major challenge in Nigeria’s power sector.
Lasaki noted that these unlawful activities lead to significant revenue losses each year, ultimately impacting the company’s ability to invest in network improvements and provide quality service to paying customers.
Meanwhile, EKEDC’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Rekhiat Momoh, urged customers to support the company’s efforts to eliminate energy theft and other illegal practices hindering its growth.
Momoh stated, “Energy theft is a serious issue that must be eradicated from our network and the power sector. We lose billions annually due to this menace, which directly impacts our ability to invest in network expansion and infrastructure upgrades needed to achieve a stable power supply.”
